BULBS MAKE GREAT COMPANIONS An easy way to achieve season ...
BULBS MAKE GREAT COMPANIONS An easy way until it has yellowed - until then, groundcover beds may bloom in to
achieve the bulb is being replenished with May, early bulbs may begin as
season long beauty in a well- nutrients for next year ’ s growth. soon as February ( Snowdrops, appointed
garden
is
to Fertilize with bulb fertilizer when Eranthis )
incorporate bulbs as companions planting,
in
subsequent
fall Crocus )
or
March
( S cilla,
and
then
become
to existing plantings. Early spring seasons or as the foliage is dormant by the end of May. This bulbs are invaluable in their emerging in spring.
means that a groundcover area
ability to "shorten" winter. At mid-
can have two different seasons of
spring, they are great mixers with woodland wildflowers. During the peak flowering period of spring, they can complement the colors of shrubs and trees. And, when inter-planted
with
summer
perennials, they can add a layer of complexity that is a feast for the eyes.
European garden style promotes using bulbs in large masses. The new American garden style offers a uniquely different approach. Bulbs are woven into the fabric of the garden. The outcome is a rich Impressionist ’ s
palette
of
blooms filled with one-of-a-kind combinations.
bloom! In order to install these diminutive
bulbs,
no
major
excavation is necessary. Just cluster handfuls of bulbs in 1-3" deep holes, cover, and time will help
them
increase
their
numbers. Mid-spring
bloomers
fill
the
period between last snow melt up
In the palette of items to use in
to bud swell of trees and shrubs,
the home landscape, bulbs often
roughly mid-April thru early May.
fall into the category of ‘ m ost
This is the same period when
missed
native woods bloom across their
opportunity ’
because to
forest floor and European alpines
shoppers until autumn. Bulbs
explode with color. Install these
they
are
not
available
must be planted in the fall in
Plant bulbs amongst hostas.
mid-season bulbs in grouped
order to have bloom in the spring. Some bulbs have a remarkable plantings in between existing ability to bloom within a few perennials, a method called A few basics…Bulbs like to be weeks of first breaking through ‘ b ouquet planting ’ . The low, dry during their dormancy. They the ground. White snowdrops, mounded habit of most alpines will
perform
raised beds
outstandingly or
berms.
on blue or white scilla, winter aconite creates the perfect mat of color Look and
multi-colored
crocuses for the bases of many medium
around the yard now and avoid provide color before anything height bulbs. White candytuft locations that gather water, for else stirs in the garden. Their interplanted with red Emperor excess moisture will shorten their petite, colonizing habit is a per- tulips is a crisp and classy lives. Try to locate bulbs in sunny fect fit for the role of ‘ b u lb combo. Alpine blue forget-meareas,
although
very
early groundcover ’ .
These
earliest nots matched with graceful, white
blooming bulbs tolerate shady bulbs can dominate a bed by ‘ T halia ’ narcissus and double forest locations. Resist the urge themselves or can be planted into pink ‘ Angelique ’ tulips create a to cut back the declining foliage existing groundcover. Where the serene, pastel picture.
Native
woodland
plants Purple
goblet-shaped
contribute a delicate, lacy look to ‘ P urple Prince ’ the garden in both their foliage purple
tulip Alliums,
very
ornamental
paired with relatives of the common onion,
lily-flowered
tulip are a very special group. The
and blooms. White rue anemone ‘ M aytime ’ and accented with flower
clusters
are
all
ball
planted in drifts with accents of chartreuse- flowered Euphorbia shaped, 1" to 10" fireworks of pink multi-flowering ‘ T oronto ’ exhibits not just color echoing blue to purple or burgundy. tulips and naturalizing dwarf blue but the newest trend for color in Chionodoxa improved
bulbs
offers
woodland
an the garden. Use saturated colors
vignette. like
purple,
deep
blue
and
Bouquets of classic white daffodil burgundy to extend the color ‘ M t. Hood ’ planted near clus- range beyond pastels. ters of yellow marsh marigold ( C altha ) will lighten up any corner of the garden.
Late
spring
Try pairing singularly planted bulbs
of
pale
purple
Allium
christophii with early summer red daylilies like
‘ C hicago Rosy ’
or the mauve blooms of Rosa
flowering
lilacs, rugosa ‘ Scabrosa ’ . This large-
crabapples and magnolias can flowered
allium
makes
a
be dressed at their bases by beautiful dried flower head once
Large bouquets of any type of adding bulbs and perennials that it has gone dormant in August. large flowering daffodil can be have a similar bloom time. Pink More petite in bloom is blue interplanted in daylily borders or ‘ P r airiefire ’ crabapple can be Allium caeruleum. Pair clusters beds
of
ornamental grasses. beautifully
Although companions
will
during
period
daffodils
are
emerging obscure
the
be
dormant with that
Tiarella ’ s
the cleaner-shaped
blue of this June-bloomer near the yellows
white
pipe ‘ A nthea ’
blooms.
The variegated
Achillea
of
( y arrow )
or the
foliage
of
their length of bloom in these plants Polemonium ‘ B rise D ’ A njou ’
showiest,
growth
with
perennial wood hyacinth bulbs interplanted pale
these the
dressed
will will last much longer than the ( J acob ’ s
later
ladder )
and
Iris
bulb tree, an added bonus. Static, low pallida ‘ Aurea Variegata ’ .
declining
foliage. This is a marriage made growing junipers can have late in garden housekeeping heaven! tulips planted behind them for a Late spring brings taller and more
exuberant
perennial
companions as well as the tallest flowering
bulbs.
The
sheer
numbers of perennials and bulbs blooming at this time allow for an exercise in color echoing. Color
stunning color impact. Try the classic, 28" tall, salmon red tulip, ‘ T emple of Beauty ’ , with its lovely lily-shaped blooms in back of the steel blue foliage of ‘ B l ue Chip ’
or
‘ N ew Blue Tam ’
juniper.
echoing involves repeating the Early summer has all of the most Thoughtful pairings of bulbs with same
color
throughout
a familiar gardener ’ s perennials groundcovers,
perennials,
grouping and varying the texture in bloom. But the population of shrubs and trees can open a or form that carries that color. bulbs is not quite finished. The garden to a world of possibilities.
achieve the bulb is being replenished with May, early bulbs may begin as
season long beauty in a well- nutrients for next year ’ s growth. soon as February ( Snowdrops, appointed
garden
is
to Fertilize with bulb fertilizer when Eranthis )
incorporate bulbs as companions planting,
in
subsequent
fall Crocus )
or
March
( S cilla,
and
then
become
to existing plantings. Early spring seasons or as the foliage is dormant by the end of May. This bulbs are invaluable in their emerging in spring.
means that a groundcover area
ability to "shorten" winter. At mid-
can have two different seasons of
spring, they are great mixers with woodland wildflowers. During the peak flowering period of spring, they can complement the colors of shrubs and trees. And, when inter-planted
with
summer
perennials, they can add a layer of complexity that is a feast for the eyes.
European garden style promotes using bulbs in large masses. The new American garden style offers a uniquely different approach. Bulbs are woven into the fabric of the garden. The outcome is a rich Impressionist ’ s
palette
of
blooms filled with one-of-a-kind combinations.
bloom! In order to install these diminutive
bulbs,
no
major
excavation is necessary. Just cluster handfuls of bulbs in 1-3" deep holes, cover, and time will help
them
increase
their
numbers. Mid-spring
bloomers
fill
the
period between last snow melt up
In the palette of items to use in
to bud swell of trees and shrubs,
the home landscape, bulbs often
roughly mid-April thru early May.
fall into the category of ‘ m ost
This is the same period when
missed
native woods bloom across their
opportunity ’
because to
forest floor and European alpines
shoppers until autumn. Bulbs
explode with color. Install these
they
are
not
available
must be planted in the fall in
Plant bulbs amongst hostas.
mid-season bulbs in grouped
order to have bloom in the spring. Some bulbs have a remarkable plantings in between existing ability to bloom within a few perennials, a method called A few basics…Bulbs like to be weeks of first breaking through ‘ b ouquet planting ’ . The low, dry during their dormancy. They the ground. White snowdrops, mounded habit of most alpines will
perform
raised beds
outstandingly or
berms.
on blue or white scilla, winter aconite creates the perfect mat of color Look and
multi-colored
crocuses for the bases of many medium
around the yard now and avoid provide color before anything height bulbs. White candytuft locations that gather water, for else stirs in the garden. Their interplanted with red Emperor excess moisture will shorten their petite, colonizing habit is a per- tulips is a crisp and classy lives. Try to locate bulbs in sunny fect fit for the role of ‘ b u lb combo. Alpine blue forget-meareas,
although
very
early groundcover ’ .
These
earliest nots matched with graceful, white
blooming bulbs tolerate shady bulbs can dominate a bed by ‘ T halia ’ narcissus and double forest locations. Resist the urge themselves or can be planted into pink ‘ Angelique ’ tulips create a to cut back the declining foliage existing groundcover. Where the serene, pastel picture.
Native
woodland
plants Purple
goblet-shaped
contribute a delicate, lacy look to ‘ P urple Prince ’ the garden in both their foliage purple
tulip Alliums,
very
ornamental
paired with relatives of the common onion,
lily-flowered
tulip are a very special group. The
and blooms. White rue anemone ‘ M aytime ’ and accented with flower
clusters
are
all
ball
planted in drifts with accents of chartreuse- flowered Euphorbia shaped, 1" to 10" fireworks of pink multi-flowering ‘ T oronto ’ exhibits not just color echoing blue to purple or burgundy. tulips and naturalizing dwarf blue but the newest trend for color in Chionodoxa improved
bulbs
offers
woodland
an the garden. Use saturated colors
vignette. like
purple,
deep
blue
and
Bouquets of classic white daffodil burgundy to extend the color ‘ M t. Hood ’ planted near clus- range beyond pastels. ters of yellow marsh marigold ( C altha ) will lighten up any corner of the garden.
Late
spring
Try pairing singularly planted bulbs
of
pale
purple
Allium
christophii with early summer red daylilies like
‘ C hicago Rosy ’
or the mauve blooms of Rosa
flowering
lilacs, rugosa ‘ Scabrosa ’ . This large-
crabapples and magnolias can flowered
allium
makes
a
be dressed at their bases by beautiful dried flower head once
Large bouquets of any type of adding bulbs and perennials that it has gone dormant in August. large flowering daffodil can be have a similar bloom time. Pink More petite in bloom is blue interplanted in daylily borders or ‘ P r airiefire ’ crabapple can be Allium caeruleum. Pair clusters beds
of
ornamental grasses. beautifully
Although companions
will
during
period
daffodils
are
emerging obscure
the
be
dormant with that
Tiarella ’ s
the cleaner-shaped
blue of this June-bloomer near the yellows
white
pipe ‘ A nthea ’
blooms.
The variegated
Achillea
of
( y arrow )
or the
foliage
of
their length of bloom in these plants Polemonium ‘ B rise D ’ A njou ’
showiest,
growth
with
perennial wood hyacinth bulbs interplanted pale
these the
dressed
will will last much longer than the ( J acob ’ s
later
ladder )
and
Iris
bulb tree, an added bonus. Static, low pallida ‘ Aurea Variegata ’ .
declining
foliage. This is a marriage made growing junipers can have late in garden housekeeping heaven! tulips planted behind them for a Late spring brings taller and more
exuberant
perennial
companions as well as the tallest flowering
bulbs.
The
sheer
numbers of perennials and bulbs blooming at this time allow for an exercise in color echoing. Color
stunning color impact. Try the classic, 28" tall, salmon red tulip, ‘ T emple of Beauty ’ , with its lovely lily-shaped blooms in back of the steel blue foliage of ‘ B l ue Chip ’
or
‘ N ew Blue Tam ’
juniper.
echoing involves repeating the Early summer has all of the most Thoughtful pairings of bulbs with same
color
throughout
a familiar gardener ’ s perennials groundcovers,
perennials,
grouping and varying the texture in bloom. But the population of shrubs and trees can open a or form that carries that color. bulbs is not quite finished. The garden to a world of possibilities.
